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Ginger Gold Mystery #6.2
Six Merry Little Murders
Indulge yourself with this collection of delectable cozy mystery novellas!
Lee Strauss - MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING
There's nothing more fun than a festive holiday dinner party and Ginger Reed, the former Lady Gold, has Hartigan House decorated and the gramophone playing. Dressed in her finest Parisian low-waisted gown, feather-topped tiara, and T-strapped Italian leather shoes, Ginger is ready to host the delectable event.
It's a jolly good time, until someone chokes on the pudding.
Is it an accident or is it murder? And can Ginger unravel the mystery before the church bells ring and New Year's Day dawns?
Karen MacInerney - SLAY BELLS RING
It's Christmastime on Dewberry Farm, and homesteader Lucy Resnick is busy bundling mistletoe bunches and cedar swags for the Buttercup Christmas Market when a neighbor's houseguest keels over right next to her peach orchard. Was it a stray bullet from a hunter that took him out? Or did a guest at the fancy ranch next door decide to scratch somebody off his or her Christmas list? It's up to Lucy to unwrap the mystery… before the holiday killer strikes again.
CeeCee James - CHRISTMAS AT BAKER STREET
In this Baker Street spin-off, Oscar and Cecelia find themselves and the guests snowed in this Christmas holiday. What should be all sugar cookies and hot cocoa takes a drastic turn when one of the guests turns up cold—as in stone cold dead. With no help in sight, the two hope to find the killer before anyone else gets iced out, including them.
Nancy Warren - CAT'S PAWS AND CURSES
In this classic closed room mystery, someone is murdered during a knitting class. But how was it possible? Lucy Swift and her band of undead knitters must catch the culprit before there's a second Christmas catastrophe!
Molly Fitz - MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM
It's Angie's first Christmas as a pet owner, and she can't wait to celebrate with Octo-Cat, Paisley, and Nan. All it takes is a little finely-crafted trickery to get her crabby tabby into the local pet supply store for a special photo opportunity with Santa. Unfortunately, the jolly old soul is found dead in the stock room before he ever gets the chance to say "cheese." Angie and her motley crew of sidekicks need to work fast to find the culprit and prevent any further suspicious holiday slaying... Otherwise, the most wonderful time of the year could end up becoming the most murderous season Blueberry Bay has ever seen.
Addison Moore - CHRISTMAS FUDGE FATALITY
My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety, aka dead pets, who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owner's impending doom.
The holidays have arrived and the Jolly Holly Tree Lot is hosting a special event that has the entire town bustling to get a picture with the jolly old elf himself. And I'm just as anxious as anyone to get to the front of the line, but that body I stumble upon threatens to take the joy right out of the season.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2019
About the author
Lee Strauss
148 books2,359 followersFor fans of Golden Age who-dun-its ~ from a USA TODAY Bestselling author!
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.
NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold
For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.
NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold
For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
November 29, 2019
I always have a difficult time rating and reviewing a collection of short stories or novellas because there are some I really like and some I really don't. In Six Merry Little Murders, I absolutely loved the first short by Lee Strauss. I'm not at all familiar with the author but loved the story, the characters, the time period and the conclusion. In fact, I liked it so much that I checked out the first full length book in the series and have started reading it. The second in the book is by an author I was slightly familiar with and has a modern setting. It was a typical holiday cozy mystery and was pleasant. From there I lost interest. Talking cats, vampire knitting clubs... I'm very sure there are those who would enjoy these stories, I just wasn't the target audience.
October 11, 2019
Murder by Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss is the story that I read in this boxed set. Ginger and Basil have a house full of guests, family and family friends, at Christmas. It's a rather tense situation when at the end of the Christmas meal one of the guests dies. A quickly paced plot with secrets, lies, red herrings and several suspects for Basil and Ginger to investigate. I was hooked from the first page and quickly finished it in one afternoon. I really enjoy this series by Ms. Strauss and always look forward to next one in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
October 19, 2019
Six Merry Little Murder: Christmas Cozy Mystery Novellas contains six entertaining mini cozy mysteries from Karen MacInerney, Lee Strauss, Molly Fitz, Addison Moore, Nancy Warren and CeeCee James. Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fitz has Angie and Octo-Cat solving a crime in a pet store. Nan created an over-the-top advent calendar with an activity listed for each day. Nan, Paisley, Angie and Octo-Cat are dressed up and at the local pet store to get their picture taken with Santa (Octo-Cat has no clue). Unfortunately, Santa is found dead in the storeroom. Officer Bouchard is in the store at the time and he recruits Angie to help him wrap up the case. Slay Bells Ring by Karen MacInerney is A Dewberry Farm Christmas novella. Lucy Resnick is preparing items to sell at the upcoming Christmas Market with help from her friend, Quinn Sloane. They are on the back porch when they hear the pop of gunshots. Cyrus Lemmon owns the property across the creek and frequently has hunting parties. Lucy grabs her binoculars to make sure everything is alright. More pops ring out and she sees a man crumple to the ground in her peach orchard. Lucy sets out to bag the killer before jolly old St. Nick rolls into town. I enjoyed reading these cute mystery novellas. They can be read as standalones. Meowy Christmas Mayhem is a humorous cozy mystery. Nan and Octo-Cat’s antics will have you in stitches. Molly Fitz provided a clever mystery. You can read one or all six. I like that there was a paranormal mystery included. Six Merry Little Murders provides six delightful cozy mysteries with mouthwatering recipes.
October 18, 2019
#1 - Murder by Plum Pudding - Lee Strauss
A large group of people are gathered around the table for Christmas Dinner at the home of Chief Inspector Basil Reed and his wife, Ginger. The guests include Ginger's step-mother, Sally Hartigan, and her sister, Louisa, as well as several friends of Ginger's late father, George Hartigan. Unfortunately, all is not merry and bright, as some of the guests seem to clash a bit.
During dinner, some of the conversations seem a little strained. When it is time for dessert, Alan Lester declines to eat the Plum Pudding. His brother-in-law, Arnold Doyle, is more than happy to have a second helping and digs in. As they are preparing to have coffee in the drawing room, Arnold Doyle grabs his throat and gasps. Even before Dr. Gupta could get to him, Arnold fell limp and died.
How did Arnold die? If so, how? He ate the same food as everybody else. Was he poisoned? Was it an accident? Can Ginger and Basil determine what happened?
#2 = Slay Bells Ring - Karen MacInerney
Lucy Reznick and her friend, Quinn, are busy bundling mistletoe and things together for the Christmas Market in Buttercup when they hear some gunshots in the distance. Although they had posted "No Hunting" signs, their neighbor, Cyrus Lemmon, continues to have hunting parties on his property across Dewberry creek from Lucy's property. Using her binoculars, Lucy sees a man aiming at something on her property. But before the man can shoot, he crumples to the ground, shot by another shooter. As Lucy has Quinn call 9-1-1, a person comes out of the bushes to check the fallen hunter, then leaves without any attempt to help. The person hid their face and Lucy could not tell if it was a man or a woman.
Who killed the hunter? Who was the hunter that got killed? Was it an accident or murder? Can Lucy help to solve the mystery before somebody else dies?
#3 - Baker Street Christmas - CeeCee James
Oscar is a retired FBI agent and Cecelia owns the Bed & Breakfast Inn next door. While Cecelia is next door speaking with Oscar, there is a knock at the door. When Oscar opens the door, a man slumps to his knees and simply says "Water" then collapsed...dead. The man, Mike McElroy, is a guest at Cecelia's B & B. Mike was there with his father, Steve, who is in a wheel chair following an accident.
How did Mike die? Was it an accident or murder? Is Cecelia in danger of losing her B & B? Can Cecelia and Oscar solve the mystery before somebody else dies?
#4 - Cat's Paws and Curses - Nancy Warren
Lucy Swift owns and operates the Cardinal Woolsey's knitting shop. The Knitting Club meets there on a regular basis. Most of the ladies were elderly and made things for their families. Sarah Lawson was younger, coming to the shop after work and often bringing something to eat with her. Priscilla Carstairs was another exception in that everything she mad was for herself, not others. Hudson was the only male in the group.
The winter weather had caused a couple of brief power outages recently. While Lucy is setting everthing up for tea, lights suddenly go out and the Knitting Group is plunged into darkness. As Lucy is looking for some candles, they hear a crash and breaking china. When the lights are restored, Joan says she was scalded by the tea and Priscilla Carstairs is dead, with a knitted Santa stuffed down her throat.
Who killed Priscilla? Why was she killed? Can Lucy figure out what happened?
#5 - Meowy Chrismas Mayhem - Molly Fiz
Angie Russo is known as Pet Whisperer, P.I. because she can talk with animals. Her cat, Octo-Cat, along with her grandmother, Nan, and Paisley (Nan's pet chihuahua), are heading to the local pet store to have their pets pictures taken with Santa. The pet store is quite crowded with everybody looking forward to getting their pet pictures with Santa. Officer Bouchard is also there with his two cats, Ghost and Shadow. The pictures were supposed to start at noon, but by 12:20 there was still no Santa.
Hearing a scream from the back of the store, Angie and Officer Bouchard go to investigate. They find Santa on the floor, but he is not breathing. The store manager could not identify the dead Santa, as he was not the one she had hired for the photo session.
Who was the man in the Santa suit? Who killed him? Why was he killed? Where is the Santa that the manager had hired? Can Angie and Officer Bouchard figure out the mystery?
#6 - Christmas Fudge Fatality - Addison Moore
Whenever Lottie Lemon sees the ghost of a dead pet, it is usually a sign of disaster in the making. Lottie has two paramours vying for her attention - Detective Noah Fox and Judge Everett Baxter. Along with most of the town, they are all gathered at Jolly Holly Tree Lot in Honey Hollow for pictures with Santa. Lottie was asked to provide sweets for the concession stand and brought some very appetizing chocolate fudge. Unfortunately, not everybody has the holiday spirit. Scott and Tamara Gray are going through a very messy and noisy divorce. It also appears that Tamara is on less than friendly terms with several other people.
When Tamara is found at the bottom of a cliff, there is no shortage of suspects. She was heard arguing with several people shortly before her death and one of the people mentioned was Lottie Lemon.
How did Tamara die? Was it an accident or murder? If murder, who killed her? Can Lottie prove her innocence? Can Lottie, Noah, and Everett unmask the real culprit?
This entire set of short stories will provide an assortment of fun and enjoyable mysteries for your reading pleasure.
A large group of people are gathered around the table for Christmas Dinner at the home of Chief Inspector Basil Reed and his wife, Ginger. The guests include Ginger's step-mother, Sally Hartigan, and her sister, Louisa, as well as several friends of Ginger's late father, George Hartigan. Unfortunately, all is not merry and bright, as some of the guests seem to clash a bit.
During dinner, some of the conversations seem a little strained. When it is time for dessert, Alan Lester declines to eat the Plum Pudding. His brother-in-law, Arnold Doyle, is more than happy to have a second helping and digs in. As they are preparing to have coffee in the drawing room, Arnold Doyle grabs his throat and gasps. Even before Dr. Gupta could get to him, Arnold fell limp and died.
How did Arnold die? If so, how? He ate the same food as everybody else. Was he poisoned? Was it an accident? Can Ginger and Basil determine what happened?
#2 = Slay Bells Ring - Karen MacInerney
Lucy Reznick and her friend, Quinn, are busy bundling mistletoe and things together for the Christmas Market in Buttercup when they hear some gunshots in the distance. Although they had posted "No Hunting" signs, their neighbor, Cyrus Lemmon, continues to have hunting parties on his property across Dewberry creek from Lucy's property. Using her binoculars, Lucy sees a man aiming at something on her property. But before the man can shoot, he crumples to the ground, shot by another shooter. As Lucy has Quinn call 9-1-1, a person comes out of the bushes to check the fallen hunter, then leaves without any attempt to help. The person hid their face and Lucy could not tell if it was a man or a woman.
Who killed the hunter? Who was the hunter that got killed? Was it an accident or murder? Can Lucy help to solve the mystery before somebody else dies?
#3 - Baker Street Christmas - CeeCee James
Oscar is a retired FBI agent and Cecelia owns the Bed & Breakfast Inn next door. While Cecelia is next door speaking with Oscar, there is a knock at the door. When Oscar opens the door, a man slumps to his knees and simply says "Water" then collapsed...dead. The man, Mike McElroy, is a guest at Cecelia's B & B. Mike was there with his father, Steve, who is in a wheel chair following an accident.
How did Mike die? Was it an accident or murder? Is Cecelia in danger of losing her B & B? Can Cecelia and Oscar solve the mystery before somebody else dies?
#4 - Cat's Paws and Curses - Nancy Warren
Lucy Swift owns and operates the Cardinal Woolsey's knitting shop. The Knitting Club meets there on a regular basis. Most of the ladies were elderly and made things for their families. Sarah Lawson was younger, coming to the shop after work and often bringing something to eat with her. Priscilla Carstairs was another exception in that everything she mad was for herself, not others. Hudson was the only male in the group.
The winter weather had caused a couple of brief power outages recently. While Lucy is setting everthing up for tea, lights suddenly go out and the Knitting Group is plunged into darkness. As Lucy is looking for some candles, they hear a crash and breaking china. When the lights are restored, Joan says she was scalded by the tea and Priscilla Carstairs is dead, with a knitted Santa stuffed down her throat.
Who killed Priscilla? Why was she killed? Can Lucy figure out what happened?
#5 - Meowy Chrismas Mayhem - Molly Fiz
Angie Russo is known as Pet Whisperer, P.I. because she can talk with animals. Her cat, Octo-Cat, along with her grandmother, Nan, and Paisley (Nan's pet chihuahua), are heading to the local pet store to have their pets pictures taken with Santa. The pet store is quite crowded with everybody looking forward to getting their pet pictures with Santa. Officer Bouchard is also there with his two cats, Ghost and Shadow. The pictures were supposed to start at noon, but by 12:20 there was still no Santa.
Hearing a scream from the back of the store, Angie and Officer Bouchard go to investigate. They find Santa on the floor, but he is not breathing. The store manager could not identify the dead Santa, as he was not the one she had hired for the photo session.
Who was the man in the Santa suit? Who killed him? Why was he killed? Where is the Santa that the manager had hired? Can Angie and Officer Bouchard figure out the mystery?
#6 - Christmas Fudge Fatality - Addison Moore
Whenever Lottie Lemon sees the ghost of a dead pet, it is usually a sign of disaster in the making. Lottie has two paramours vying for her attention - Detective Noah Fox and Judge Everett Baxter. Along with most of the town, they are all gathered at Jolly Holly Tree Lot in Honey Hollow for pictures with Santa. Lottie was asked to provide sweets for the concession stand and brought some very appetizing chocolate fudge. Unfortunately, not everybody has the holiday spirit. Scott and Tamara Gray are going through a very messy and noisy divorce. It also appears that Tamara is on less than friendly terms with several other people.
When Tamara is found at the bottom of a cliff, there is no shortage of suspects. She was heard arguing with several people shortly before her death and one of the people mentioned was Lottie Lemon.
How did Tamara die? Was it an accident or murder? If murder, who killed her? Can Lottie prove her innocence? Can Lottie, Noah, and Everett unmask the real culprit?
This entire set of short stories will provide an assortment of fun and enjoyable mysteries for your reading pleasure.
December 1, 2019
Kindle Freebie at time of download
This anthology of Christmas, pet or culinary themed Christmas cozies contains a little something for everyone.
MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING by Less Strauss-- 4 stars is the whole reason I downloaded this set. I love the Ginger Gold series and this is no exception. Ginger is excited to celebrate Christmas with her new family and show Scout the magic of the season. However, she's a bit wistful missing her stepmother and sister back in Boston. When Sally and Louisa show up, Ginger is excited to see them, until they announce they're staying with her! Ginger is planning a dinner party with an American business associate of her father and his wife, the Reed family and friends. Another guest is invited for dinner so the young ladies will have a single gentleman to fight over! The American, Mr. Doyle, may be rude and crass but surely no one would wish him dead? That seems to be the case when the man dies after eating a bite of Christmas pudding. Basil and Dr. Gupta are certain the death was not due to natural causes. Can Ginger and Basil solve the crime before Christmas is over?
This story is longer than the Lady Gold Investigates series and shorter than a full-length novel. It's a very satisfactory length but a bit too long to read in one sitting. I love how confident Ginger and Basil are now in their relationship with each other and how easy they share sleuthing duties. His respect for her is admirable. Scout usually provides some comic relief but he isn't in the story much. Boss, my very favorite character, does have a big role to play in this story. Louisa is back and as annoying as ever and we get to finally meet Sally. I can see why Louisa is a pill. I don't understand what Ginger's father saw in Sally. Sally is acting more than snippy, she acts suspicious. There's NO WAY Ginger's stepmother could be a killer, right? Readers of Ginger's Journal may be disappointed that one entry is repeated here but still it was good to meet Sally in the present and see what she is like now her husband is dead.
Newcomers include Mr. and Mrs. Doyle from America. He's a loud, crude man- the sort the English hate. He manages to insult Ginger and her guests while his wife is forced to put up with his behavior and apologize. Her brother, Mr. Lester, is also at the dinner party. He's quiet and a bit aloof. Mr. Lester doesn't really respond to Louisa and Felicia's flirtations. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport, friends of the Reeds, seem lonely and sad. They have secrets that could lead to the killer. Mrs. Davenport seems to be elderly, frail and possibly afflicted with dementia. They're a rather sad reminder that the book is set post-WWI.
I figured out which person was the killer right away and the murder weapon is equally obvious. Still, this is a fun mystery and fans of the series will enjoy it. Newcomers could start here if they wanted but I wouldn't recommend it.
SLAY BELLS RING by Karen MacInerney -- 2 stars
At Dewberry Farm in Texas, Christmas means mistletoe bunches, cedar swags and homemade goat's milk soap for the Buttercup Christmas Market. When Lucy Resnick and her friend Quinn hear shots coming from the ranch next door they are a bit worried for the livestock. Then the shots move closer into Lucy's peach orchard and the ladies become frightened and move indoors. The shooting turns fatal when a person crumples dead in the orchard and another person takes off running. The police think it was a random accident with the city folks staying at Lemmon Ranch but when Lucy has an opportunity to meet her wealthy neighbor and his guests, something doesn't feel right. Was this an accident or was it murder?
This series is new to me and I frankly didn't care at all about the characters or the setting. I'm not a farm girl and I'm not from Texas. I couldn't relate to Lucy or the other characters at all. Cyrus Lemmon seems nice enough but he and his guests do an awful lot of drinking before dinner. His wife, Lissa, is an alcoholic and an angry drunk. She's a nasty woman and I don't see their marriage lasting. The guests all meld together as faceless rich people. The way the mystery is solved is a bit too coincidental and quick. This is not my favorite story.
CHRISTMAS AT BAKER STREET by CeeCee James -- 3.5 stars
In this Baker Street spin-off, Cecelia is working hard to put grumpy Oscar in the Christmas spirit. When one of her guests ends up dead outside the B&B and the police threaten to take away her food license, Cecelia is deeply upset. It's up to Oscar to put his rusty FBI skills to the test and figure out what happened and help Cecelia.
I loved catching up with these characters even though I don't usually like elderly characters and elderly romances. That came as a shock to me. The last I saw Oscar, he was barely coming around and talking to Georgie. Now he's kissing Cecelia and they are obviously in love. It's sweet how her cheerful optimism can bring him out of his grief-stricken funk. Bear aka Peanut is hands-down my favorite character. She's so silly and cute. In this novella she has a very important part. I was happy to read that scene. Georgie is nowhere in sight and Frank only appears in police capacity.
There are several new guests at the B&B. Mike, the deceased, was a young man visiting the inn with his wheelchair-bound father, Steve. Mike seems like he was a slacker and Steve was tough on him. Steve is paralyzed from an accident and unable to manage without a caretaker. I feel very badly for him that his son and caretaker was killed. Steve is a bit tough and hard to like too and perhaps he was overly harsh to his son. Roy and Troy, businessmen visiting town, seem to have a lot of free time on their hands for people attending a conference. They don't even know when hey're supposed to be done. Maybe they're playing hooky or hiding something? Sarah, a college student, seems very kind and caring. Sarah is the only guest who is truly likable. Bobby and Brenda are newcomers after the murder. They can't seem to get their story straight and act kind of suspicious. They seem nice enough though and weren't around at the time of Mike's death. Perhaps they're just private?
This is a complicated mystery! I figured out one of the mysteries but not the whole picture. I enjoyed the puzzle of trying to fit the pieces together. One big mystery remains- what did Oscar do that his sons find unforgivable? A new spin-off series focusing on Oscar and his family will answer that question.
CAT'S PAWS AND CURSES by Nancy Warren I skipped this story. I don't do vampires.
MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM by Molly Fitz -- 3 stars
It's Christmas and clients for her P.I. business have been scarce but Angie and her sidekick Octo-Cat have still discovered their fair share of murderers thanks to Angie's ability to hear animals' thoughts and speak with them. Angie's Nan has a whole month of festive activities planned including pet pictures with Santa wearing outfits to match their owners'. Octo-Cat protests but Angie refuses to translate his grumpiness. Nan and her pup Paisley accompany Angie and Octo-Cat to the pet shop but Santa does not await. After a delay, Angie searches out Santa only to find him dead in the back storeroom. With the local police busy, it's up to Officer Bouchard, Angie, Angie's boyfriend Charles (a lawyer) and Octo-Cat to solve the crime.
The setting is charming. Even though I hate paranormal and find the whole reason for Angie's gift super cheesy, I enjoyed the concept. Angie is an eternal optimist with a sunny disposition. Normally I'd find her annoying but Octo-Cat's grouchiness makes up for it. I love his sarcasm. Sometimes he's a little too grouchy and mean. The author must be a cat lover because the dogs seem to be less intelligent or less developed than the cat. Paisley sounds like a little sweetheart but childlike compared to Octo-Cat's old man voice. Nan is irritating but she's fun and if she was my grandma, I'd be embarrassed but love her anyway.
Who could have killed Santa and why? The store manager, Shirley, claims the victim wasn't the man she hired and she has never seen this man before. Shirley is obviously defensive but doesn't seem upset that someone was murdered. She's the type who is more concerned about the store than the human. Andy Crawford, the real Santa-for-hire, is a crude sort of man. He's brash and kind of bullying. I found Andy to be a very unpleasant man. The victim, Marcus, wasn't a great guy but I feel sorry for him. Scott, Marcus's only friend, is also rude and unpleasant. He seems genuinely upset that Marcus was killed.
Which one killed Marcus? The solution isn't so easy to figure out and is rather complicated. I didn't expect the twist.
CHRISTMAS FUDGE FATALITY by Addison Moore -- 2.5 stars
Lottie Lemon is eager to enjoy the Christmas season with her cats and her two boyfriends. When she comes out to take a picture of Santa with her cats she unwillingly gets in the middle of a feud between her friend, Tamara Gray and Tamara's ex-husband's girlfriend Stacy. Lottie hopes the divorcing couple can settle things soon but when she sees the ghost of a French Bulldog, she fears the worst. Seeing dead pets usually means murder is imminent. In spite of extra police detail, Lottie finds Tamara's body lying at the bottom of a ravine. Everyone is certain Tamara's ex Scott is the killer but Noel, the French Bulldog is still hanging around. He wants justice done for his beloved friend and is eager to help dole it out. If only they can untangle the complicated knot woven around Tamara's life to find the killer.
I really hate ghost stories. I love animals so I kept reading this one. One dead pet didn't bother me too much because Noel seemed to really be alive. I did not enjoy the cameo by two dead humans and the references to ghost tours. It seemed fairly obvious who killed Tamara but there ended up being several suspects so I wasn't positive until the end. I wasn't surprised by the identity of the killer but the motive was really weak and implausible.
Lottie has two boyfriends and can't decide which one she likes better but the events of this story help start to push her away from one of her men. Everett, Lottie's good friend, is a better man. He's kind to her cats and supportive of Lottie. Even though he's a judge, he can't be unbiased towards Noah and some of that bias comes out a bit mean-spirited. Detective Noah Fox is kind of a jerk. He's a good detective but he lacks tact and sensitivity. I don't know why the cats like him better.
Tamara seems nice but what we hear about her after her death shows she is not as nice to everyone as she is to Lottie. Tamara is certainly vindictive towards her ex. Scott seems like a not-so-nice man from Tamara's point-of-view and even one of the other characters reveals hidden things about him. He has a nasty temper he can barely control and surely seems capable of murder in everyone else's opinion, yet when he's on page and accused of murder, he seems genuinely sincere in his innocence. Lottie thinks Scott's girlfriend Stacy is super nice but Stacy comes across as a bit mean-spirited. As the other woman she surely must be a villain but she does try to solve her differences with Tamara by speaking with her. Other suspects include employees and friends Bonnie Dupre and Joyce. Bonnie, an accountant, is not as good with money as she should be. She has a serious problem and a motive for murder. Joyce, a women's gym proprietor, is not the most pleasant person to deal with. She has a better motive for murder than Bonnie and she's tough enough to fight. Both women don't seem like killers but Lottie is convinced Tamara didn't just fall down the ravine.
Lottie has two sisters who apparently don't share her special gift. Lainey is a librarian of the modern sort. I found her a bit off-putting and not very warm. Their sister, Meg, is an ex-wrestler who apparently now teaches stripper dancing?! Meg is tough but more sisterly than Lainey. Their mother owns a haunted B&B and apparently makes a lot of money providing authentic ghost tours and pushing Lottie's baked goods associated with murder victims. ew. ugh. Mrs. Lemon also acts like a horny teenager. More ew. Lottie's best friend Keelie is crazy.
I didn't really like any of the new-to-me stories enough to want to read a series but I enjoyed this collection of novellas and was happy to catch up with series I have already read. I recommend this to cozy mystery lovers who read pet and/or baking themed stories and want some fun holiday infusion in their stories.
This anthology of Christmas, pet or culinary themed Christmas cozies contains a little something for everyone.
MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING by Less Strauss-- 4 stars is the whole reason I downloaded this set. I love the Ginger Gold series and this is no exception. Ginger is excited to celebrate Christmas with her new family and show Scout the magic of the season. However, she's a bit wistful missing her stepmother and sister back in Boston. When Sally and Louisa show up, Ginger is excited to see them, until they announce they're staying with her! Ginger is planning a dinner party with an American business associate of her father and his wife, the Reed family and friends. Another guest is invited for dinner so the young ladies will have a single gentleman to fight over! The American, Mr. Doyle, may be rude and crass but surely no one would wish him dead? That seems to be the case when the man dies after eating a bite of Christmas pudding. Basil and Dr. Gupta are certain the death was not due to natural causes. Can Ginger and Basil solve the crime before Christmas is over?
This story is longer than the Lady Gold Investigates series and shorter than a full-length novel. It's a very satisfactory length but a bit too long to read in one sitting. I love how confident Ginger and Basil are now in their relationship with each other and how easy they share sleuthing duties. His respect for her is admirable. Scout usually provides some comic relief but he isn't in the story much. Boss, my very favorite character, does have a big role to play in this story. Louisa is back and as annoying as ever and we get to finally meet Sally. I can see why Louisa is a pill. I don't understand what Ginger's father saw in Sally. Sally is acting more than snippy, she acts suspicious. There's NO WAY Ginger's stepmother could be a killer, right? Readers of Ginger's Journal may be disappointed that one entry is repeated here but still it was good to meet Sally in the present and see what she is like now her husband is dead.
Newcomers include Mr. and Mrs. Doyle from America. He's a loud, crude man- the sort the English hate. He manages to insult Ginger and her guests while his wife is forced to put up with his behavior and apologize. Her brother, Mr. Lester, is also at the dinner party. He's quiet and a bit aloof. Mr. Lester doesn't really respond to Louisa and Felicia's flirtations. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport, friends of the Reeds, seem lonely and sad. They have secrets that could lead to the killer. Mrs. Davenport seems to be elderly, frail and possibly afflicted with dementia. They're a rather sad reminder that the book is set post-WWI.
I figured out which person was the killer right away and the murder weapon is equally obvious. Still, this is a fun mystery and fans of the series will enjoy it. Newcomers could start here if they wanted but I wouldn't recommend it.
SLAY BELLS RING by Karen MacInerney -- 2 stars
At Dewberry Farm in Texas, Christmas means mistletoe bunches, cedar swags and homemade goat's milk soap for the Buttercup Christmas Market. When Lucy Resnick and her friend Quinn hear shots coming from the ranch next door they are a bit worried for the livestock. Then the shots move closer into Lucy's peach orchard and the ladies become frightened and move indoors. The shooting turns fatal when a person crumples dead in the orchard and another person takes off running. The police think it was a random accident with the city folks staying at Lemmon Ranch but when Lucy has an opportunity to meet her wealthy neighbor and his guests, something doesn't feel right. Was this an accident or was it murder?
This series is new to me and I frankly didn't care at all about the characters or the setting. I'm not a farm girl and I'm not from Texas. I couldn't relate to Lucy or the other characters at all. Cyrus Lemmon seems nice enough but he and his guests do an awful lot of drinking before dinner. His wife, Lissa, is an alcoholic and an angry drunk. She's a nasty woman and I don't see their marriage lasting. The guests all meld together as faceless rich people. The way the mystery is solved is a bit too coincidental and quick. This is not my favorite story.
CHRISTMAS AT BAKER STREET by CeeCee James -- 3.5 stars
In this Baker Street spin-off, Cecelia is working hard to put grumpy Oscar in the Christmas spirit. When one of her guests ends up dead outside the B&B and the police threaten to take away her food license, Cecelia is deeply upset. It's up to Oscar to put his rusty FBI skills to the test and figure out what happened and help Cecelia.
I loved catching up with these characters even though I don't usually like elderly characters and elderly romances. That came as a shock to me. The last I saw Oscar, he was barely coming around and talking to Georgie. Now he's kissing Cecelia and they are obviously in love. It's sweet how her cheerful optimism can bring him out of his grief-stricken funk. Bear aka Peanut is hands-down my favorite character. She's so silly and cute. In this novella she has a very important part. I was happy to read that scene. Georgie is nowhere in sight and Frank only appears in police capacity.
There are several new guests at the B&B. Mike, the deceased, was a young man visiting the inn with his wheelchair-bound father, Steve. Mike seems like he was a slacker and Steve was tough on him. Steve is paralyzed from an accident and unable to manage without a caretaker. I feel very badly for him that his son and caretaker was killed. Steve is a bit tough and hard to like too and perhaps he was overly harsh to his son. Roy and Troy, businessmen visiting town, seem to have a lot of free time on their hands for people attending a conference. They don't even know when hey're supposed to be done. Maybe they're playing hooky or hiding something? Sarah, a college student, seems very kind and caring. Sarah is the only guest who is truly likable. Bobby and Brenda are newcomers after the murder. They can't seem to get their story straight and act kind of suspicious. They seem nice enough though and weren't around at the time of Mike's death. Perhaps they're just private?
This is a complicated mystery! I figured out one of the mysteries but not the whole picture. I enjoyed the puzzle of trying to fit the pieces together. One big mystery remains- what did Oscar do that his sons find unforgivable? A new spin-off series focusing on Oscar and his family will answer that question.
CAT'S PAWS AND CURSES by Nancy Warren I skipped this story. I don't do vampires.
MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM by Molly Fitz -- 3 stars
It's Christmas and clients for her P.I. business have been scarce but Angie and her sidekick Octo-Cat have still discovered their fair share of murderers thanks to Angie's ability to hear animals' thoughts and speak with them. Angie's Nan has a whole month of festive activities planned including pet pictures with Santa wearing outfits to match their owners'. Octo-Cat protests but Angie refuses to translate his grumpiness. Nan and her pup Paisley accompany Angie and Octo-Cat to the pet shop but Santa does not await. After a delay, Angie searches out Santa only to find him dead in the back storeroom. With the local police busy, it's up to Officer Bouchard, Angie, Angie's boyfriend Charles (a lawyer) and Octo-Cat to solve the crime.
The setting is charming. Even though I hate paranormal and find the whole reason for Angie's gift super cheesy, I enjoyed the concept. Angie is an eternal optimist with a sunny disposition. Normally I'd find her annoying but Octo-Cat's grouchiness makes up for it. I love his sarcasm. Sometimes he's a little too grouchy and mean. The author must be a cat lover because the dogs seem to be less intelligent or less developed than the cat. Paisley sounds like a little sweetheart but childlike compared to Octo-Cat's old man voice. Nan is irritating but she's fun and if she was my grandma, I'd be embarrassed but love her anyway.
Who could have killed Santa and why? The store manager, Shirley, claims the victim wasn't the man she hired and she has never seen this man before. Shirley is obviously defensive but doesn't seem upset that someone was murdered. She's the type who is more concerned about the store than the human. Andy Crawford, the real Santa-for-hire, is a crude sort of man. He's brash and kind of bullying. I found Andy to be a very unpleasant man. The victim, Marcus, wasn't a great guy but I feel sorry for him. Scott, Marcus's only friend, is also rude and unpleasant. He seems genuinely upset that Marcus was killed.
Which one killed Marcus? The solution isn't so easy to figure out and is rather complicated. I didn't expect the twist.
CHRISTMAS FUDGE FATALITY by Addison Moore -- 2.5 stars
Lottie Lemon is eager to enjoy the Christmas season with her cats and her two boyfriends. When she comes out to take a picture of Santa with her cats she unwillingly gets in the middle of a feud between her friend, Tamara Gray and Tamara's ex-husband's girlfriend Stacy. Lottie hopes the divorcing couple can settle things soon but when she sees the ghost of a French Bulldog, she fears the worst. Seeing dead pets usually means murder is imminent. In spite of extra police detail, Lottie finds Tamara's body lying at the bottom of a ravine. Everyone is certain Tamara's ex Scott is the killer but Noel, the French Bulldog is still hanging around. He wants justice done for his beloved friend and is eager to help dole it out. If only they can untangle the complicated knot woven around Tamara's life to find the killer.
I really hate ghost stories. I love animals so I kept reading this one. One dead pet didn't bother me too much because Noel seemed to really be alive. I did not enjoy the cameo by two dead humans and the references to ghost tours. It seemed fairly obvious who killed Tamara but there ended up being several suspects so I wasn't positive until the end. I wasn't surprised by the identity of the killer but the motive was really weak and implausible.
Lottie has two boyfriends and can't decide which one she likes better but the events of this story help start to push her away from one of her men. Everett, Lottie's good friend, is a better man. He's kind to her cats and supportive of Lottie. Even though he's a judge, he can't be unbiased towards Noah and some of that bias comes out a bit mean-spirited. Detective Noah Fox is kind of a jerk. He's a good detective but he lacks tact and sensitivity. I don't know why the cats like him better.
Tamara seems nice but what we hear about her after her death shows she is not as nice to everyone as she is to Lottie. Tamara is certainly vindictive towards her ex. Scott seems like a not-so-nice man from Tamara's point-of-view and even one of the other characters reveals hidden things about him. He has a nasty temper he can barely control and surely seems capable of murder in everyone else's opinion, yet when he's on page and accused of murder, he seems genuinely sincere in his innocence. Lottie thinks Scott's girlfriend Stacy is super nice but Stacy comes across as a bit mean-spirited. As the other woman she surely must be a villain but she does try to solve her differences with Tamara by speaking with her. Other suspects include employees and friends Bonnie Dupre and Joyce. Bonnie, an accountant, is not as good with money as she should be. She has a serious problem and a motive for murder. Joyce, a women's gym proprietor, is not the most pleasant person to deal with. She has a better motive for murder than Bonnie and she's tough enough to fight. Both women don't seem like killers but Lottie is convinced Tamara didn't just fall down the ravine.
Lottie has two sisters who apparently don't share her special gift. Lainey is a librarian of the modern sort. I found her a bit off-putting and not very warm. Their sister, Meg, is an ex-wrestler who apparently now teaches stripper dancing?! Meg is tough but more sisterly than Lainey. Their mother owns a haunted B&B and apparently makes a lot of money providing authentic ghost tours and pushing Lottie's baked goods associated with murder victims. ew. ugh. Mrs. Lemon also acts like a horny teenager. More ew. Lottie's best friend Keelie is crazy.
I didn't really like any of the new-to-me stories enough to want to read a series but I enjoyed this collection of novellas and was happy to catch up with series I have already read. I recommend this to cozy mystery lovers who read pet and/or baking themed stories and want some fun holiday infusion in their stories.
December 17, 2019
DNF at 6%.
October 15, 2019
Murder By Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss 3 stars
The journal remained tucked away in the bottom drawer of Mrs. Ginger Reed's bedside table, along with a photo of her first husband, Daniel , Lord Gold.
Historical cozies are not my favorite genre but I did enjoy the story. I appreciated that Ginger worked outside the home which was not common in the late 1920s. The characters were well developed and believable. I may go back and read earlier books just to learn a bit more about Ginger.
Slay Bells Ring by Karen MacInerney 4 stars
Nothing says Christmas in Central Texas like cedar fever.
Lucy and Quinn are preparing for the Christmas Market when a hunter is shot and killed on Lucy's land. This is one of my all time favorite series. I love the characters and the small town atmosphere. Every book makes me want to move to a small farming community and leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city. It is something that I plan for retirement and I hope that I will meet colorful characters like the ones written by Karen MacInerney. I love the interaction between Lucy and her friends. I really like the personalities of the animals on her little farm. I always learn something new from her DIY projects. The yummy recipes are always a hit as well. This was a nice addition to the series.
Baker Street Christmas by CeeCee James 3 stars
The clouds in the sky lay across the horizon like a gray flannel blanket, threatening an impending snow storm.
A guest at a local bed and breakfast dies unexpectedly and the other guests are not quite what they seem. This was a cute cozy form a series that I am not familiar with. I did enjoy the mature sleuths and the good character portrayal. This is a series that I will definitely be looking into.
Cat's Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren 4 stars
There is a phenomenon that occurs all over the British Isles toward the end of December.
I have only read the first book in the Vampire Knitting club series and really enjoyed it. This quick Christmas novella has a human knitting group that meets in the yarn shop. A couple of the vampire knitters are in attendance as well. During a brief blackout, a knitter is murdered. This was a lovely addition to the series. I enjoyed meeting the characters in the first book. Ms. Warren does an excellent job in introducing characters. As a fiber fiend, I appreciate the weekly meeting to knit and/or crochet. It's always a bit disturbing to imagine that a killer is sitting right next to you. I thought the plot was handled quite well. I look forward to reading more in the series.
Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fitz 3.5 stars
Hi, my name's Angie Russo, and I can talk to animals.
I love the concept of talking to animals! Then I start thinking of all the things we do in front of our animals and thank goodness mine can't talk. This was a clever tale and I will go back to read the other books in the series.
Christmas Fudge Fatality: Murder in The Mix by Addison Moore 4 stars
My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people.
Any cozy with a bit of a paranormal twist to it interests me. This was no exception. Again, we have a character that sees and talks with animals although these are generally departed pets. I enjoyed the characters. I am not a fan of romantic triangles but I'm willing to give it a chance. This is a series that I will be looking into to start.
The recipe section at the back of the book was excellent! I often try recipes that are in cozies. I've really been watching my carbs but that does not stop me from making goodies to take to work. There are several here that I think will go over great.
This was a cute collection that I enjoyed reading. I found a few authors to add to my never ending to be read pile.
The journal remained tucked away in the bottom drawer of Mrs. Ginger Reed's bedside table, along with a photo of her first husband, Daniel , Lord Gold.
Historical cozies are not my favorite genre but I did enjoy the story. I appreciated that Ginger worked outside the home which was not common in the late 1920s. The characters were well developed and believable. I may go back and read earlier books just to learn a bit more about Ginger.
Slay Bells Ring by Karen MacInerney 4 stars
Nothing says Christmas in Central Texas like cedar fever.
Lucy and Quinn are preparing for the Christmas Market when a hunter is shot and killed on Lucy's land. This is one of my all time favorite series. I love the characters and the small town atmosphere. Every book makes me want to move to a small farming community and leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city. It is something that I plan for retirement and I hope that I will meet colorful characters like the ones written by Karen MacInerney. I love the interaction between Lucy and her friends. I really like the personalities of the animals on her little farm. I always learn something new from her DIY projects. The yummy recipes are always a hit as well. This was a nice addition to the series.
Baker Street Christmas by CeeCee James 3 stars
The clouds in the sky lay across the horizon like a gray flannel blanket, threatening an impending snow storm.
A guest at a local bed and breakfast dies unexpectedly and the other guests are not quite what they seem. This was a cute cozy form a series that I am not familiar with. I did enjoy the mature sleuths and the good character portrayal. This is a series that I will definitely be looking into.
Cat's Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren 4 stars
There is a phenomenon that occurs all over the British Isles toward the end of December.
I have only read the first book in the Vampire Knitting club series and really enjoyed it. This quick Christmas novella has a human knitting group that meets in the yarn shop. A couple of the vampire knitters are in attendance as well. During a brief blackout, a knitter is murdered. This was a lovely addition to the series. I enjoyed meeting the characters in the first book. Ms. Warren does an excellent job in introducing characters. As a fiber fiend, I appreciate the weekly meeting to knit and/or crochet. It's always a bit disturbing to imagine that a killer is sitting right next to you. I thought the plot was handled quite well. I look forward to reading more in the series.
Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fitz 3.5 stars
Hi, my name's Angie Russo, and I can talk to animals.
I love the concept of talking to animals! Then I start thinking of all the things we do in front of our animals and thank goodness mine can't talk. This was a clever tale and I will go back to read the other books in the series.
Christmas Fudge Fatality: Murder in The Mix by Addison Moore 4 stars
My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people.
Any cozy with a bit of a paranormal twist to it interests me. This was no exception. Again, we have a character that sees and talks with animals although these are generally departed pets. I enjoyed the characters. I am not a fan of romantic triangles but I'm willing to give it a chance. This is a series that I will be looking into to start.
The recipe section at the back of the book was excellent! I often try recipes that are in cozies. I've really been watching my carbs but that does not stop me from making goodies to take to work. There are several here that I think will go over great.
This was a cute collection that I enjoyed reading. I found a few authors to add to my never ending to be read pile.
Currently Reading
October 11, 2019Author gift 99
September 17, 2026
This anthology is terribly uneven. I found two of the stories worthy of 5-stars, but the other four lacked that quality. Overall, the rating for this book is 3-stars. Each of the novellas is reviewed and rated, below.
Murder by Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss
Rated 5 stars
Lady Gold returns in a lively short story that has her relatives arriving from America for an unexpected Christmas visit. Hartigan House, the home she inherited when her father died, is filled with myriad people from assorted backgrounds and with mixed purposes. A festive dinner party ends in death, and Lady Gold is right there at the scene to investigate with her husband, Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Basil Reed. Everyone is a suspect and it’s up to Lady Gold to help figure out who is behind the murder. She does, of course, with intelligence and wit while fielding lies that surround all the suspects and surly relatives who do not want much to do with her. It’s a satisfying short story that is over all too soon!
Slay Bells Ring by Karen Macinerney
Rated 3.5 stars
This is a Dewberry Farm mystery with the two main characters, Lucy Resnick and Tobias Brandt, wrapped up in the fatal shooting of a neighbor’s houseguest. The mystery unravels as the remaining houseguests seem to have motives to spare for murdering the fellow. Lucy, who saw the shooting happen at the edge of her property, eventually runs down the culprit with her clever sleuthing. The police, represented by Buttercup’s Deputy Shames, seem oddly missing from the crime. The deputy arrives to take Lucy’s statement and remains only in people’s discussions. That struck me as odd. Buttercup is a small town, and I would have expected more presence from the deputy.
There are a few stoppers that make a reader pause. For instance:
In chapter 3, Tobias says, “I’ll get the fire going if you’ll crack open this cider.” Moments later, he takes a phone call and tells Lucy, “The beer will have to wait…” What happened to the cider?
Lucy is in the middle of stirring butter and cream on the stove while making butterscotch squares when she spots something white fluttering in her orchard – presumably this is from a window over the stove she is cooking on. Next Lucy tells us, “I let myself out the back gate…” This made me pause. She’s melting butter and cream, a step that requires good timing because all sorts of kitchen accidents can occur if the mixture isn’t watched carefully. One moment she is about to add sugar – another crucial step in candy making – and the next she’s outside on her way to the orchard. What happened to the candy she was making?
There is an awkward sentence, “…somewhere where the goats might eat it.” The second “where” is unnecessary and brings the reader out of the story for a few moments.
A sentence uses two adverbs together, and one would serve us better. “…the town Christmas tree, a remarkably evenly shaped cedar…” I think “remarkably” could be removed. I’m not as adamant about adverb usage as is Stephen King, but I agree that judicious use of them is wise.
The story is told from Lucy’s first person POV, and I believe it would have been better using a third person narrator as the storyteller. The first person POV feels contrived at times, and Lucy sometimes feels devious, withholding information from the reader as a device, rather than an open style of telling a tale.
Baker Street Christmas by CeeCee James
Rated 2.5 stars
This is a Baker Street story starring retired FBI agent, Oscar O’Neil, and bed-and-breakfast owner and host, Cecelia Wagner. Georgie, who is the main character in the Baker Street mystery series, is given a cameo role. One of Cecelia’s guests is unpopular with the other guests and is murdered. Cecelia snoops a bit and Oscar puts all the pieces together as the two move among B&B guests who appear to have plenty of secrets themselves. The final reveal, made by Oscar, is a satisfying conclusion to this mini-mystery tale.
There are several oddities in the book that pull a reader out of the story. For example:
In chapters 1 and 2, Cecelia is entirely too precious. She uses several expressions too many times. “Oh, pooh” is an interjection that changes later in the story to “Oh, poo.” I think the writer needs to stick with “pooh” – it’s more in keeping with exclamatory remarks. Additional exclamations include “Oh, my stars,” “Lord have mercy,” and “Oh, my word.” And then…they stop. We hear no more of them (until chapter 7), and she becomes a more settled and coherent protagonist. In chapter 7, Cecelia says, “Pish posh! You have the cutest face…” and the overly cutesy B&B host is back. She doesn’t stay long, however, and the more thoughtful Cecelia returns.
A word used as an adjective is made plural; it’s an error that pauses a reader: “…the worn flannels slippers…” This should read, “…the worn flannel slippers…”
There’s an odd sentence: “Cecelia ruffled and crossed her arms.” “Ruffle” is a transitive verb and needs an object. What did Cecelia ruffle? Surely not her arms? This sentence takes the reader out of the story to wonder what it means.
Another error that made me laugh out loud is this: “Who’s cards were who’s.” Oh my. The word, “Who’s,” is a contraction for “Who is” or “Who has.” It is not a possessive pronoun. This sentence should read, “Whose cards were whose.” There’s a simple test that every writer should use when in doubt about “who’s” vs. “whose.” Change the word, “Who’s” to “Who is” or “Who has.” If the sentence still makes sense, then “Who’s” is correct.
Another word made me stop to consider its usage: “He knew how those little wahoos could get when they wanted to make a big name for themselves…” It’s possible that “wahoo” is a regional expression – I believe the story takes place in Gainesville, Pennsylvania – but a wahoo is a species of plant or a fish. It can also be used in place of “Yahoo!” when used as an exclamation. However, “yahoo” is also a derogatory term for a rude, uncultured person. I believe that’s the word the writer meant, but I don’t know for sure. It would read better, I think, like this: “…those little yahoos could get what they wanted…”
An article is left out: “…tonight might be somber night.” This should read, “…tonight might be a somber night.”
An adverb is misspelled: “The thought process is sometime a slow machine.” The word is “sometimes,” and the sentence should read, “…is sometimes a slow machine.”
An incorrect term is used: “…that guy was a blue-collared worker…” Now, that’s funny. The term is “blue-collar” and the sentence should read, “…that guy was a blue-collar worker…”
A word is capitalized unnecessarily: “…speaking of dinner, Don’t you think I’ve forgotten…” The word, “don’t” should not be capitalized; this should read, “…speaking of dinner, don’t you think…”
A superfluous sentence ends chapter 7: “He was discrete.” Unless Oscar is a number, the word “discrete” is misspelled. The correct word is discreet (inobtrusive and subtle). The sentence seems to be a propos of nothing. Oscar is making a phone call, and he may need to be inconspicuous, but we don’t know this. Why is he being discreet? There’s no one in the room with him. Does he need to be discreet with the person he’s calling? We don’t know. The chapter would end just as well without this curious sentence.
An unnecessary pronoun is placed in a sentence: “…a plate of cookies which she passed them around.” The word, “them,” is odd and pauses the reader. This should read, “…a plate of cookies she passed around.”
This sentence is missing a helper verb: “The police already gotten into position…” This is an action that began in the past, continued for a time, and is still relevant now. We need a perfect progressive verb. The sentence should read, “The police had already gotten into position…”
A preposition is missing here: “Make yourself home, Peanut!” The expression is to make oneself at home, and the sentence should read, “Make yourself at home, Peanut!”
Oscar provides the resolution to the murder mystery, pulling together the many pieces of information provided by all the players in this story. It’s a nice little puzzle. The ending of the story, however, is a cliffhanger, and we are probably expected to buy the next book to find out that particular resolution. I’m ambivalent. I like Oscar and I like Cecelia when she’s the down-to-earth, less flighty B&B owner, but there were a lot of errors in this novella, and I’m not sure I’m up to slogging through more of them. Regardless, this is a plot that holds a reader’s attention and invites the reader to come up with the solution by sprinkling clues throughout scenes. The clues are handled very well.
Cat’s Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren
Rated 5*
What a fine closed room mystery! It is well written with equal parts coziness and whimsy, and the characters pop right off the page in all their three-dimensional glory. I prefer a 3rd person POV, but Lucy Swift, the 1st person narrator is a delight to follow through the story. Lucy is a witch with a grandmother who is a vampire. Some of her best friends are vampires, and one vampire in particular – Rafe Croyser – is someone who seems to be a close approximation to the love of her life…if only he weren’t a vampire. She also has a familiar, a lovely black cat named Nyx (named after the daughter of Chaos in Greek mythology). Such an interesting backdrop to the room where a human knitting circle meets to knit Christmas presents. Add to that circle, two vampires who are Lucy’s friends and who convince her to let them join the humans in order to finish their knitting projects, too.
The clues are laid out well. The mystery surrounding the murder is purposeful. It is a joy to read! I’ve never read anything by Nancy Warren, but I’ll be quick to correct this. I can’t wait to read more about Lucy, her grandmother, and their vampire friends (especially Rafe Croyser!). This is a well-deserved five-star novella.
Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fritz
Rated 2-stars
I did not care for this novella, but I think it’s more a matter of preference than anything else. I like the idea of the narrator/lead character, Angie Russo, being able to hear animals talk à la Dr. Doolittle, but the story just didn’t click for me. Two things bothered me. The first is the way the animals talked. They are portrayed as being bright and talkative, which is fine, but they sounded like humans. I want a cat to sound like a cat, and a dog to sound like a dog, and a ferret to sound like a ferret. Not dialect, necessarily, but using the nature of each species to determine how they would speak to a human through their minds.
The second problem I had was Angie remaining on tenterhooks throughout the story, worrying about being heard talking to her cat (with the delightful name of Octo-Cat). For instance, another character in the story hears her talking to Octo-Cat and Angie panics. She tells us, “Pffhew. I’d managed to evade suspicion once again” because she pretends to be talking to the character rather than her cat. This fear is brought up multiple times. I don’t buy it. People routinely talk to their pets. And we talk to neighbors’ pets, too. And even pets we’re just meeting. It’s natural and customary for animal lovers to greet animals in a friendly way and even have conversations with them. Angie is surrounded by pet owners who, no doubt, talk to their pets, too. Angie’s fear is irrational and becomes grating.
If you like talking animals and find Angie’s worries amusing, then you’ll like this book. I did not, but again, I believe it’s just my preference.
Christmas Fudge Fatality by Addison Moore
Rated 2-stars
This last novella reminded me of the previous one. Here, the protagonist can hear and speak with animals but with a twist: the animals are dead, returning to find their beloved owners’ killers. The story takes place in small town Honey Hollow and is populated with a substantial number of characters that overpopulate the pages. Because there are many – so, so, so many – characters, it is hard to keep them straight without a scorecard. One problem is they all sound alike. When one female character speaks, it could be any of them. Readers would be lost without dialogue tags.
Each character has their own backstory, and these backstories are related in considerable detail. There is so much description that the plot gets lost. By the end of chapter 5, the reader has read about relationships, love interests, disappointments, sad events, and associations among myriad characters, and it’s too much. Most of the details are not necessary to the story and make it difficult to know which characters are important and which are just passing through.
The main character and narrator, Lottie Lemon, has a problem on her hands. In a town where every man is handsome and every woman beautiful, her problem is being unable to decide between two devastatingly goodlooking men who are rivals for her affection. Their rivalry is so convoluted that everyone in this triangle would be better off moving on (IMHO). The two men in the triangle are Noah, a town detective, and Everett, a sitting judge. Long ago Noah’s father and Everett’s mother were married until Noah’s father left Everett’s mother and took all her money with him. Then Noah took Everett’s girlfriend away from Everett. For some reason not shared with us, the two men are friends, and both are sought after by the estrogen set. Noah is “aggressively handsome” with a “dimple-laden smile” and green eyes. Everett is “smolderingly sexy” with “jet-black hair and stunning cobalt-blue eyes.”
Lottie seems to favor Everett for unfathomable reasons. As she tells us, Everett prefers his middle name to his first name (Essex) and she goes on to say, “The only people who seem to freely call him Essex are the multitude of women that he’s done the mattress mambo with. I guess you could say they acquire his first name as sort of a door prize.” Wha-a-at…? This appears to be perfectly acceptable behavior to Lottie. We don’t get this much detail about Noah, but he turns the heads of bevies of beauties himself. However, Lottie shares this alarming tidbit: “Noah and I have let it get ugly a time or two.” What does that even mean? Is Noah abusive? She shares no more information.
Lottie’s behavior is disingenuous. She scolds Everett and Noah for their rivalry, yet eggs them on. She is constantly irritated when women come on to the two men. She can’t/won’t make up her mind about which one she prefers, so she leads them both on. Her actions show just how much she likes their mock-teasing competitiveness. When Lottie invites the two men to a town Christmas celebration, she tells them, “I invited you both out here. I thought it would be fun.” The first thought that popped into my mind was, “Fun for whom?” The men are rivals, and Lottie gets to be the center of attention. This situation takes up a lot of room in this novella, yet does not affect the plot.
In chapter 4, Lottie seems to remember there’s a plot to get on with. She tells us, “Now if I could only figure out who killed Tamara.” At last, we can get on with the story. Unfortunately, we have not met all the characters yet, nor have we experienced their backstories. In all, it really is TMI – just too much information.
There are a few errors and stoppers that make a reader pause. For example:
A wrong word is used, or perhaps it’s a typo: “…not only am I relived, but I’m urging Everett to hop to it.” I believe the writer means “relieved,” so this should read, “…not only am I relieved…”
Police procedure is ignored, and it stops a reader momentarily. A woman being questioned by the police wants Everett’s phone number and Noah, a police detective, gives it to her. A police detective would not give out a judge’s personal number, even if the detective and judge are rivals.
This same judge, Everett, walks into an illegal casino in Vermont, run by the mob, and doesn’t bat an eye. An ethical judge wouldn’t do this.
There are occasional breaks in tense. Here, we’re in present tense, then thrust into past tense, in the same scene with no looking back in time: “Joyce strides in with her dark hair swept up into a bun, skintight yoga pants, and a matching tank top despite the deep freeze going on outside. Keelie and I donned our sweats.” The book is told in present tense except when bringing up past events, so the second sentence should read, “Keelie and I don our sweats.”
In this sentence, the tenses are jumbled: “Stacy said she has something she needed to discuss with her.” While the narrator uses the present tense, here the speaker is talking about something that happened in the past. This should read, “Stacy said she had something she needed to discuss…”
A past tense is used incorrectly: “…you could have done this and then came back to get me.” The “you could have” phrase actually applies to both the “to do” and “to come” verbs. Essentially, the sentence is saying, “…you could have done this, and then you could have come back to get me” because it’s describing a past possibility (or unrealized action). The second “you could have” is assumed and does not have to be repeated, so the sentence should read, “…you could have done this and then come back to get me.”
This sentence contains a stopper that makes a reader pause: “…she’s wearing a strand of garlands around her neck…” A garland is a wreath of flowers, so she’s wearing a strand of a wreath of flowers. She could be wearing a garland around her neck, or a strand of flowers, but both are a bit much.
Here’s another interesting mix of tenses: “Stacy grunts, ‘Don’t do this, Lottie. It didn’t have to be this way.’” Because the default is present tense, it would read better to use that tense here, too: “Stacy grunts, ‘Don’t do this, Lottie. It doesn’t have to be this way.’” This indicates the current situation doesn’t need to happen. However, if Stacy is talking about a past situation, then it would be better to say, “Stacy grunts, ‘Don’t do this, Lottie. It didn’t have to be that way.’” Using “that” with the past tense, “didn’t,” distances the situation Stacy is talking about.
An article is left out: “…on the way to parking lot.” That should read, “…on the way to the parking lot.”
I did not care for this story. Despite what she tells us, Lottie doesn’t seem to care about either of her men very much. She finds their rivalry amusing and she tells their backstory, which is actually tragic, with an indifference that speaks volumes about her character. As much information that is thrust on the reader, very little substance is shown regarding any of the characters, even the main three in their love triangle.
Murder by Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss
Rated 5 stars
Lady Gold returns in a lively short story that has her relatives arriving from America for an unexpected Christmas visit. Hartigan House, the home she inherited when her father died, is filled with myriad people from assorted backgrounds and with mixed purposes. A festive dinner party ends in death, and Lady Gold is right there at the scene to investigate with her husband, Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Basil Reed. Everyone is a suspect and it’s up to Lady Gold to help figure out who is behind the murder. She does, of course, with intelligence and wit while fielding lies that surround all the suspects and surly relatives who do not want much to do with her. It’s a satisfying short story that is over all too soon!
Slay Bells Ring by Karen Macinerney
Rated 3.5 stars
This is a Dewberry Farm mystery with the two main characters, Lucy Resnick and Tobias Brandt, wrapped up in the fatal shooting of a neighbor’s houseguest. The mystery unravels as the remaining houseguests seem to have motives to spare for murdering the fellow. Lucy, who saw the shooting happen at the edge of her property, eventually runs down the culprit with her clever sleuthing. The police, represented by Buttercup’s Deputy Shames, seem oddly missing from the crime. The deputy arrives to take Lucy’s statement and remains only in people’s discussions. That struck me as odd. Buttercup is a small town, and I would have expected more presence from the deputy.
There are a few stoppers that make a reader pause. For instance:
In chapter 3, Tobias says, “I’ll get the fire going if you’ll crack open this cider.” Moments later, he takes a phone call and tells Lucy, “The beer will have to wait…” What happened to the cider?
Lucy is in the middle of stirring butter and cream on the stove while making butterscotch squares when she spots something white fluttering in her orchard – presumably this is from a window over the stove she is cooking on. Next Lucy tells us, “I let myself out the back gate…” This made me pause. She’s melting butter and cream, a step that requires good timing because all sorts of kitchen accidents can occur if the mixture isn’t watched carefully. One moment she is about to add sugar – another crucial step in candy making – and the next she’s outside on her way to the orchard. What happened to the candy she was making?
There is an awkward sentence, “…somewhere where the goats might eat it.” The second “where” is unnecessary and brings the reader out of the story for a few moments.
A sentence uses two adverbs together, and one would serve us better. “…the town Christmas tree, a remarkably evenly shaped cedar…” I think “remarkably” could be removed. I’m not as adamant about adverb usage as is Stephen King, but I agree that judicious use of them is wise.
The story is told from Lucy’s first person POV, and I believe it would have been better using a third person narrator as the storyteller. The first person POV feels contrived at times, and Lucy sometimes feels devious, withholding information from the reader as a device, rather than an open style of telling a tale.
Baker Street Christmas by CeeCee James
Rated 2.5 stars
This is a Baker Street story starring retired FBI agent, Oscar O’Neil, and bed-and-breakfast owner and host, Cecelia Wagner. Georgie, who is the main character in the Baker Street mystery series, is given a cameo role. One of Cecelia’s guests is unpopular with the other guests and is murdered. Cecelia snoops a bit and Oscar puts all the pieces together as the two move among B&B guests who appear to have plenty of secrets themselves. The final reveal, made by Oscar, is a satisfying conclusion to this mini-mystery tale.
There are several oddities in the book that pull a reader out of the story. For example:
In chapters 1 and 2, Cecelia is entirely too precious. She uses several expressions too many times. “Oh, pooh” is an interjection that changes later in the story to “Oh, poo.” I think the writer needs to stick with “pooh” – it’s more in keeping with exclamatory remarks. Additional exclamations include “Oh, my stars,” “Lord have mercy,” and “Oh, my word.” And then…they stop. We hear no more of them (until chapter 7), and she becomes a more settled and coherent protagonist. In chapter 7, Cecelia says, “Pish posh! You have the cutest face…” and the overly cutesy B&B host is back. She doesn’t stay long, however, and the more thoughtful Cecelia returns.
A word used as an adjective is made plural; it’s an error that pauses a reader: “…the worn flannels slippers…” This should read, “…the worn flannel slippers…”
There’s an odd sentence: “Cecelia ruffled and crossed her arms.” “Ruffle” is a transitive verb and needs an object. What did Cecelia ruffle? Surely not her arms? This sentence takes the reader out of the story to wonder what it means.
Another error that made me laugh out loud is this: “Who’s cards were who’s.” Oh my. The word, “Who’s,” is a contraction for “Who is” or “Who has.” It is not a possessive pronoun. This sentence should read, “Whose cards were whose.” There’s a simple test that every writer should use when in doubt about “who’s” vs. “whose.” Change the word, “Who’s” to “Who is” or “Who has.” If the sentence still makes sense, then “Who’s” is correct.
Another word made me stop to consider its usage: “He knew how those little wahoos could get when they wanted to make a big name for themselves…” It’s possible that “wahoo” is a regional expression – I believe the story takes place in Gainesville, Pennsylvania – but a wahoo is a species of plant or a fish. It can also be used in place of “Yahoo!” when used as an exclamation. However, “yahoo” is also a derogatory term for a rude, uncultured person. I believe that’s the word the writer meant, but I don’t know for sure. It would read better, I think, like this: “…those little yahoos could get what they wanted…”
An article is left out: “…tonight might be somber night.” This should read, “…tonight might be a somber night.”
An adverb is misspelled: “The thought process is sometime a slow machine.” The word is “sometimes,” and the sentence should read, “…is sometimes a slow machine.”
An incorrect term is used: “…that guy was a blue-collared worker…” Now, that’s funny. The term is “blue-collar” and the sentence should read, “…that guy was a blue-collar worker…”
A word is capitalized unnecessarily: “…speaking of dinner, Don’t you think I’ve forgotten…” The word, “don’t” should not be capitalized; this should read, “…speaking of dinner, don’t you think…”
A superfluous sentence ends chapter 7: “He was discrete.” Unless Oscar is a number, the word “discrete” is misspelled. The correct word is discreet (inobtrusive and subtle). The sentence seems to be a propos of nothing. Oscar is making a phone call, and he may need to be inconspicuous, but we don’t know this. Why is he being discreet? There’s no one in the room with him. Does he need to be discreet with the person he’s calling? We don’t know. The chapter would end just as well without this curious sentence.
An unnecessary pronoun is placed in a sentence: “…a plate of cookies which she passed them around.” The word, “them,” is odd and pauses the reader. This should read, “…a plate of cookies she passed around.”
This sentence is missing a helper verb: “The police already gotten into position…” This is an action that began in the past, continued for a time, and is still relevant now. We need a perfect progressive verb. The sentence should read, “The police had already gotten into position…”
A preposition is missing here: “Make yourself home, Peanut!” The expression is to make oneself at home, and the sentence should read, “Make yourself at home, Peanut!”
Oscar provides the resolution to the murder mystery, pulling together the many pieces of information provided by all the players in this story. It’s a nice little puzzle. The ending of the story, however, is a cliffhanger, and we are probably expected to buy the next book to find out that particular resolution. I’m ambivalent. I like Oscar and I like Cecelia when she’s the down-to-earth, less flighty B&B owner, but there were a lot of errors in this novella, and I’m not sure I’m up to slogging through more of them. Regardless, this is a plot that holds a reader’s attention and invites the reader to come up with the solution by sprinkling clues throughout scenes. The clues are handled very well.
Cat’s Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren
Rated 5*
What a fine closed room mystery! It is well written with equal parts coziness and whimsy, and the characters pop right off the page in all their three-dimensional glory. I prefer a 3rd person POV, but Lucy Swift, the 1st person narrator is a delight to follow through the story. Lucy is a witch with a grandmother who is a vampire. Some of her best friends are vampires, and one vampire in particular – Rafe Croyser – is someone who seems to be a close approximation to the love of her life…if only he weren’t a vampire. She also has a familiar, a lovely black cat named Nyx (named after the daughter of Chaos in Greek mythology). Such an interesting backdrop to the room where a human knitting circle meets to knit Christmas presents. Add to that circle, two vampires who are Lucy’s friends and who convince her to let them join the humans in order to finish their knitting projects, too.
The clues are laid out well. The mystery surrounding the murder is purposeful. It is a joy to read! I’ve never read anything by Nancy Warren, but I’ll be quick to correct this. I can’t wait to read more about Lucy, her grandmother, and their vampire friends (especially Rafe Croyser!). This is a well-deserved five-star novella.
Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fritz
Rated 2-stars
I did not care for this novella, but I think it’s more a matter of preference than anything else. I like the idea of the narrator/lead character, Angie Russo, being able to hear animals talk à la Dr. Doolittle, but the story just didn’t click for me. Two things bothered me. The first is the way the animals talked. They are portrayed as being bright and talkative, which is fine, but they sounded like humans. I want a cat to sound like a cat, and a dog to sound like a dog, and a ferret to sound like a ferret. Not dialect, necessarily, but using the nature of each species to determine how they would speak to a human through their minds.
The second problem I had was Angie remaining on tenterhooks throughout the story, worrying about being heard talking to her cat (with the delightful name of Octo-Cat). For instance, another character in the story hears her talking to Octo-Cat and Angie panics. She tells us, “Pffhew. I’d managed to evade suspicion once again” because she pretends to be talking to the character rather than her cat. This fear is brought up multiple times. I don’t buy it. People routinely talk to their pets. And we talk to neighbors’ pets, too. And even pets we’re just meeting. It’s natural and customary for animal lovers to greet animals in a friendly way and even have conversations with them. Angie is surrounded by pet owners who, no doubt, talk to their pets, too. Angie’s fear is irrational and becomes grating.
If you like talking animals and find Angie’s worries amusing, then you’ll like this book. I did not, but again, I believe it’s just my preference.
Christmas Fudge Fatality by Addison Moore
Rated 2-stars
This last novella reminded me of the previous one. Here, the protagonist can hear and speak with animals but with a twist: the animals are dead, returning to find their beloved owners’ killers. The story takes place in small town Honey Hollow and is populated with a substantial number of characters that overpopulate the pages. Because there are many – so, so, so many – characters, it is hard to keep them straight without a scorecard. One problem is they all sound alike. When one female character speaks, it could be any of them. Readers would be lost without dialogue tags.
Each character has their own backstory, and these backstories are related in considerable detail. There is so much description that the plot gets lost. By the end of chapter 5, the reader has read about relationships, love interests, disappointments, sad events, and associations among myriad characters, and it’s too much. Most of the details are not necessary to the story and make it difficult to know which characters are important and which are just passing through.
The main character and narrator, Lottie Lemon, has a problem on her hands. In a town where every man is handsome and every woman beautiful, her problem is being unable to decide between two devastatingly goodlooking men who are rivals for her affection. Their rivalry is so convoluted that everyone in this triangle would be better off moving on (IMHO). The two men in the triangle are Noah, a town detective, and Everett, a sitting judge. Long ago Noah’s father and Everett’s mother were married until Noah’s father left Everett’s mother and took all her money with him. Then Noah took Everett’s girlfriend away from Everett. For some reason not shared with us, the two men are friends, and both are sought after by the estrogen set. Noah is “aggressively handsome” with a “dimple-laden smile” and green eyes. Everett is “smolderingly sexy” with “jet-black hair and stunning cobalt-blue eyes.”
Lottie seems to favor Everett for unfathomable reasons. As she tells us, Everett prefers his middle name to his first name (Essex) and she goes on to say, “The only people who seem to freely call him Essex are the multitude of women that he’s done the mattress mambo with. I guess you could say they acquire his first name as sort of a door prize.” Wha-a-at…? This appears to be perfectly acceptable behavior to Lottie. We don’t get this much detail about Noah, but he turns the heads of bevies of beauties himself. However, Lottie shares this alarming tidbit: “Noah and I have let it get ugly a time or two.” What does that even mean? Is Noah abusive? She shares no more information.
Lottie’s behavior is disingenuous. She scolds Everett and Noah for their rivalry, yet eggs them on. She is constantly irritated when women come on to the two men. She can’t/won’t make up her mind about which one she prefers, so she leads them both on. Her actions show just how much she likes their mock-teasing competitiveness. When Lottie invites the two men to a town Christmas celebration, she tells them, “I invited you both out here. I thought it would be fun.” The first thought that popped into my mind was, “Fun for whom?” The men are rivals, and Lottie gets to be the center of attention. This situation takes up a lot of room in this novella, yet does not affect the plot.
In chapter 4, Lottie seems to remember there’s a plot to get on with. She tells us, “Now if I could only figure out who killed Tamara.” At last, we can get on with the story. Unfortunately, we have not met all the characters yet, nor have we experienced their backstories. In all, it really is TMI – just too much information.
There are a few errors and stoppers that make a reader pause. For example:
A wrong word is used, or perhaps it’s a typo: “…not only am I relived, but I’m urging Everett to hop to it.” I believe the writer means “relieved,” so this should read, “…not only am I relieved…”
Police procedure is ignored, and it stops a reader momentarily. A woman being questioned by the police wants Everett’s phone number and Noah, a police detective, gives it to her. A police detective would not give out a judge’s personal number, even if the detective and judge are rivals.
This same judge, Everett, walks into an illegal casino in Vermont, run by the mob, and doesn’t bat an eye. An ethical judge wouldn’t do this.
There are occasional breaks in tense. Here, we’re in present tense, then thrust into past tense, in the same scene with no looking back in time: “Joyce strides in with her dark hair swept up into a bun, skintight yoga pants, and a matching tank top despite the deep freeze going on outside. Keelie and I donned our sweats.” The book is told in present tense except when bringing up past events, so the second sentence should read, “Keelie and I don our sweats.”
In this sentence, the tenses are jumbled: “Stacy said she has something she needed to discuss with her.” While the narrator uses the present tense, here the speaker is talking about something that happened in the past. This should read, “Stacy said she had something she needed to discuss…”
A past tense is used incorrectly: “…you could have done this and then came back to get me.” The “you could have” phrase actually applies to both the “to do” and “to come” verbs. Essentially, the sentence is saying, “…you could have done this, and then you could have come back to get me” because it’s describing a past possibility (or unrealized action). The second “you could have” is assumed and does not have to be repeated, so the sentence should read, “…you could have done this and then come back to get me.”
This sentence contains a stopper that makes a reader pause: “…she’s wearing a strand of garlands around her neck…” A garland is a wreath of flowers, so she’s wearing a strand of a wreath of flowers. She could be wearing a garland around her neck, or a strand of flowers, but both are a bit much.
Here’s another interesting mix of tenses: “Stacy grunts, ‘Don’t do this, Lottie. It didn’t have to be this way.’” Because the default is present tense, it would read better to use that tense here, too: “Stacy grunts, ‘Don’t do this, Lottie. It doesn’t have to be this way.’” This indicates the current situation doesn’t need to happen. However, if Stacy is talking about a past situation, then it would be better to say, “Stacy grunts, ‘Don’t do this, Lottie. It didn’t have to be that way.’” Using “that” with the past tense, “didn’t,” distances the situation Stacy is talking about.
An article is left out: “…on the way to parking lot.” That should read, “…on the way to the parking lot.”
I did not care for this story. Despite what she tells us, Lottie doesn’t seem to care about either of her men very much. She finds their rivalry amusing and she tells their backstory, which is actually tragic, with an indifference that speaks volumes about her character. As much information that is thrust on the reader, very little substance is shown regarding any of the characters, even the main three in their love triangle.
December 5, 2019
Coyer Winter 2019
Free e-books are always a mixed bag and this was the case with this anthology. The first was actually the best of all the stories. It captured the essence of a Holiday mystery . I struggled with the rest of the stories in the volume
Free e-books are always a mixed bag and this was the case with this anthology. The first was actually the best of all the stories. It captured the essence of a Holiday mystery . I struggled with the rest of the stories in the volume
October 22, 2019
This review is for MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM by Molly Fitz only. For the time being anyway, because several other novellas look very interesting.
Again, it seems I'm making a habit of this, I purchased this anthology for one specific book: Molly Fitz's MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM. I've read every installment of the Pet Whisperer P.I. series, and I couldn't miss this. I feel compelled to read every book because I just love that grumpy cat!
I have found the Pet Whisperer P.I. series to be a bit of a hit-and-miss, but this one is definitely a hit. We get down pretty quickly to the nitty gritty, and the mystery itself is quite intriguing. Although it can be read as a standalone, it does tie in with a previous book, and I thought it was very cleverly done. And our favourite fussy feline was very present, this time around.
MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM is a fun read; I really enjoyed it. Now, (hopefully!), on to the next.
Again, it seems I'm making a habit of this, I purchased this anthology for one specific book: Molly Fitz's MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM. I've read every installment of the Pet Whisperer P.I. series, and I couldn't miss this. I feel compelled to read every book because I just love that grumpy cat!
I have found the Pet Whisperer P.I. series to be a bit of a hit-and-miss, but this one is definitely a hit. We get down pretty quickly to the nitty gritty, and the mystery itself is quite intriguing. Although it can be read as a standalone, it does tie in with a previous book, and I thought it was very cleverly done. And our favourite fussy feline was very present, this time around.
MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM is a fun read; I really enjoyed it. Now, (hopefully!), on to the next.
August 13, 2020
I have been provided with a copy of Six Merry Little Murders: Christmas Cozy Mystery Novellas by the author for an impartial review. This box set has the following titles Murder by Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss, Slay Bells Ring by Karen MacInerney, Christmas at Baker Street by CeeCee James, Cat’s Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren, Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fitz, and Christmas Fudge Fatality by Addison Moore. I’ll be updating this review as I finish each title.
Murder by Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss
Slay Bells Ring by Karen MacInerney
Christmas at Baker Street by CeeCee James
Cat’s Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren
Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fitz
This novella is a part of the brand-new Pet Whisperer P.I. series and is best read after Chihuahua Conspiracy. I just loved this cute story. This was a great holiday novella and I just loved getting to see what Angie and Octo-Cat are getting themselves into. I just couldn’t get enough of this wonderful series and great characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this series.
Christmas Fudge Fatality by Addison Moore
Murder by Plum Pudding by Lee Strauss
Slay Bells Ring by Karen MacInerney
Christmas at Baker Street by CeeCee James
Cat’s Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren
Meowy Christmas Mayhem by Molly Fitz
This novella is a part of the brand-new Pet Whisperer P.I. series and is best read after Chihuahua Conspiracy. I just loved this cute story. This was a great holiday novella and I just loved getting to see what Angie and Octo-Cat are getting themselves into. I just couldn’t get enough of this wonderful series and great characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this series.
Christmas Fudge Fatality by Addison Moore
January 5, 2020
Collection of novellas. As with many collections, there were some winners and losers, but still a festive read.
Lee Strauss - MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING
Karen MacInerney - SLAY BELLS RING
Hunting accident or foul play?
CeeCee James - CHRISTMAS AT BAKER STREET
Snowed in with a killer?
Nancy Warren - CAT'S PAWS AND CURSES
Paranormal knitting circle makes for a closed room mystery.
Molly Fitz - MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM
Angie and Octocat must solve a case while waiting in line at the pet store for a pic with Santa.
Addison Moore - CHRISTMAS FUDGE FATALITY
Was the victim pushed over a cliff, or did she fall?
Lee Strauss - MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING
Karen MacInerney - SLAY BELLS RING
Hunting accident or foul play?
CeeCee James - CHRISTMAS AT BAKER STREET
Snowed in with a killer?
Nancy Warren - CAT'S PAWS AND CURSES
Paranormal knitting circle makes for a closed room mystery.
Molly Fitz - MEOWY CHRISTMAS MAYHEM
Angie and Octocat must solve a case while waiting in line at the pet store for a pic with Santa.
Addison Moore - CHRISTMAS FUDGE FATALITY
Was the victim pushed over a cliff, or did she fall?
January 11, 2020
This wasn't bad, as far as cosy mysteries go. The only problem with an anthology is that it's not possible to give an opinion stating an average across all the stories, without adding undue credit to some and undervaluing others. I think the best thought out, most polished of the collection was the first story (you'll have to read it to find out which it was, because I'm not going to give any spoilers).
If you're a cosy mystery fan and want to find new series to follow, then this is worth a go. Each had different quirks and habits, although some of them hold more promise for long-term success and meat on the bones than others. Definitely a good book for low thinking, easy bedtime reading.
If you're a cosy mystery fan and want to find new series to follow, then this is worth a go. Each had different quirks and habits, although some of them hold more promise for long-term success and meat on the bones than others. Definitely a good book for low thinking, easy bedtime reading.
December 15, 2021
So there were six stories in this anthology.
The first two were kinda me, the 3&4th story were okay and I actually liked the last two.
I think the main problem was that the authors struggled to fit a murder mystery into a short story format. Adding to that the sometimes unnecessary many character introductions and the stories just aren’t that great.
I liked the concept of the last story, but frankly the two guys fighting over the girl were so annoying!
And why on earth would anyone in their right mind confront a murderer while that person has a kitchen knife in their hands???? Like, girl, think!!
The first two were kinda me, the 3&4th story were okay and I actually liked the last two.
I think the main problem was that the authors struggled to fit a murder mystery into a short story format. Adding to that the sometimes unnecessary many character introductions and the stories just aren’t that great.
I liked the concept of the last story, but frankly the two guys fighting over the girl were so annoying!
And why on earth would anyone in their right mind confront a murderer while that person has a kitchen knife in their hands???? Like, girl, think!!
December 24, 2019
I Enjoyed 4 Stories of the 6
When buying an anthology like this, one sort of takes a "pig in a poke" in terms of if all the stories will be something you want to read. For me, I enjoyed 4 of the stories but two were not on my reading list. I am not much for stories about vampires nor about ghost pets that come back to earth when the murder of their owner is about to happen. Both just seem a bit too weird for me. Thus the reason for the 4 stars which I gave for the enjoyment I got out of the other 4 stories.
When buying an anthology like this, one sort of takes a "pig in a poke" in terms of if all the stories will be something you want to read. For me, I enjoyed 4 of the stories but two were not on my reading list. I am not much for stories about vampires nor about ghost pets that come back to earth when the murder of their owner is about to happen. Both just seem a bit too weird for me. Thus the reason for the 4 stars which I gave for the enjoyment I got out of the other 4 stories.
December 27, 2019
I bought this largely on the strength of the first author Lee Strauss whose Ginger Gold series I follow. That story was very good but sadly the rest were quite trite and lack lustre. I know short stories can be tricky things but I was unable to engage with the characters in the other stories and just skim read to the end. The Lee Strauss Story is also available as a standalone novella and I wish I had just bought that.
December 31, 2019
This collection of 6 tales makes for a delightful read to get you into the Christmas spirit while keeping a bit of chill in the air too with murder in the air alongside the smell of cookies and eggnog. Along with each story you also get a few bonus recipes to try, taken straight from each story, to tempt you that bit further and bring a little of each story home (the bits that you would want anyway!).
November 21, 2021
Christmas-themed murder mysteries by some of my favorite authors? Sign me up! There’s a lot of variety in this anthology. Contemporary or historical. Paranormal or procedural. Humorous or serious. Take your pick. I enjoyed all of the stories in this book, and many of them are series I haven’t read previously. I’m sure there’s about to be a flurry of spending and binge reading in my future so I can see the rest of what I’ve been missing.
January 11, 2023
lame
I don’t like lee straus’s writing at all. Don’t like the time it’s set in, find it slow and boring.
Didn’t like the next book, Boring, slow, just no good. After that I tried reading the next book, bit it truly couldn’t hold my attention.
I really got this freebie only to read Addison moore’s book. But in The end couldn’t face it.
I think Addison has done a disservice to herself putting a short story in with the other authours,
I don’t like lee straus’s writing at all. Don’t like the time it’s set in, find it slow and boring.
Didn’t like the next book, Boring, slow, just no good. After that I tried reading the next book, bit it truly couldn’t hold my attention.
I really got this freebie only to read Addison moore’s book. But in The end couldn’t face it.
I think Addison has done a disservice to herself putting a short story in with the other authours,
December 27, 2019
Six fun and cozy mysteries
I enjoyed reading this compilation of short stories and novellas. I thought all of the authors did a great job, with the exception of one story that I thought was poorly written. I loved that there was an assortment of settings and genres - historical, witches and vampires, talking animals, etc. It has been fun discovering new authors to explore.
I enjoyed reading this compilation of short stories and novellas. I thought all of the authors did a great job, with the exception of one story that I thought was poorly written. I loved that there was an assortment of settings and genres - historical, witches and vampires, talking animals, etc. It has been fun discovering new authors to explore.
December 29, 2019
Six Merry Little Murders: Christmas Cozy Mystery Novellas was a fun, light-hearted read featuring six new murder mysteries by authors; Lee Strauss, Karen MacInerney, CeeCee James, Nancy Warren, Molly Fitz, Addison Moore.
I enjoyed sampling the work of these authors. The only one I had any knowledge of was Lee Strauss whose book Murder on the SS Rosa I read previously.
I enjoyed sampling the work of these authors. The only one I had any knowledge of was Lee Strauss whose book Murder on the SS Rosa I read previously.
January 23, 2020
This is a collection of six cozy short Christmas Murder Mysteries. Some were more entertaining than others. All of the writers have additional books available. Some of them I might read at some point. Others I would skip. Try them out on a cold winter's night with some hot chocolate and decide for yourself. None of the stories are very long so you have lost nothing by trying them out.
February 10, 2020
Loved the Lee Straus story
I am a big fan of Lee Straus so I got this book. Had I realized I could get it on its own I wouldn't have bought this one. I am not a fan of talking animal stories or haunted mysteries. When they are together in the same story I definitely don't like them.I did read them all but now I can't wait to move on.
I am a big fan of Lee Straus so I got this book. Had I realized I could get it on its own I wouldn't have bought this one. I am not a fan of talking animal stories or haunted mysteries. When they are together in the same story I definitely don't like them.I did read them all but now I can't wait to move on.
February 14, 2020
Great Read
Love all the stories. I have read every book by Karen Macinerney and love them all. I always look forward to the next mystery.
I have always wanted to read CeeCer James and with this short story I cannot wait to read more.
I am going to start reading all the authors in this book.
Love all the stories. I have read every book by Karen Macinerney and love them all. I always look forward to the next mystery.
I have always wanted to read CeeCer James and with this short story I cannot wait to read more.
I am going to start reading all the authors in this book.
September 12, 2020
Some of the novellas were good, others not so much, but that is what you get with an anthology. It’s difficult to really develop characters when writing a shorter novel and I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series, so I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters. I really don’t enjoy many cozies with ghosts or animals that talk to the Protagonist.
November 25, 2020
Six Merry Little Murders is a compilation of six cozy mysteries. The six stories are very different from each other. One story takes place in England in the early twentieth century on Christmas Eve. Another takes place in rural Texas. Another involves zombies. Even dead pet spirits help to solve crimes. At least one story and one of the included will please a cozy mystery fan.
December 17, 2019
I frankly didn’t care that much for any of these stories, although if I could rate them separately, I would rate the Ginger Gold story the highest, maybe a 3.5 rounded to 4. The others were just not at all interesting to me, and most wrapped up in the most unconvincing way...too quickly, too easily, too unbelievably. And the one about vampires? Please, I had no interest in reading that one at all. I love to read good, well-written novels about Christmas at this time of year, but this was not worth bothering with, in my opinion. Very disappointed.
January 10, 2020
I enjoyed these little stories in this box set very much. I highly recommend this set of books written by some of my most loved authors to anyone interested in some light reading without any bloodshed.
June 15, 2020
Quick Christmas Reads
I loved this collection of quick and easy Christmas mysteries, perfect to read while waiting for the cookies to come out of the oven. Comprised of a nice variety of authors with different styles, and delicious recipes included at the end.
I loved this collection of quick and easy Christmas mysteries, perfect to read while waiting for the cookies to come out of the oven. Comprised of a nice variety of authors with different styles, and delicious recipes included at the end.
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